None of the four was likely to make the Opening Day roster, but Marrero and Kimball each impressed team officials this spring and positioned themselves to earn a promotion sometime this season.

Marrero, one of the Nationals' top prospects since he was selected in the first round of the 2006 draft, hit .381 with two doubles and three RBI in 12 Grapefruit League games. More importantly, he showed significant improvement in the field, the aspect of his game considered most suspect in the past.

Kimball, a hard-throwing reliever, wowed observers from his first bullpen session and then continued to impress in exhibition play. The 25-year-old allowed just one run in eight innings, striking out eight in the process.

Brown, acquired along with pitcher Henry Rodriguez from the Athletics in this winter's Josh Willingham trade, never got much of a chance to state his case this spring after spraining his ankle sliding into the plate on March 1. The 25-year-old outfielder hadn't returned to play since suffering the injury.

Norris, another top prospect in the organization, will open the season at Class AA Harrisburg but could continue to move quickly up the ladder. The 22-year-old catcher went 3-for-15 in 11 games this spring.

I think Derrick Norris and Jhonotan Solano are now also assigned / optioned to the minors.

This year will be a very interesting year with players in both Syracuse and Harrisburg pushing to rise up to the 40-man. I suspect we won't have to wait for ST 2012.

If they start off badly (with Riggleman an unfortunate necessity) then we might see some whether some of the younger starters blossom. Tatsuko and Milone might be ready? Meanwhile, one would have to expect Brown, Harper, Norris, Lombardozzi, and Marerro (perhaps Tyler Moore) pushing hard to leap onto the 40-man.

The key is starting pitching. Tatusko with his new found Strasburg-like velocity looks the most interesting. Milone looks like a better John Lannan in the making. Detwiler and Maya could end up going down to Syracuse as well where they will find many pushing them in competition for the coveted 40-man roster spots. Perhaps Storen too?

Strasburg and Wang are probably still counted because (a) they are on the 40-man roster and they are in camp, (b) they have not been optioned to the minors, and (c) they cannot be placed on the DL yet because the DL won't exist until 25-man rosters are set right before Opening Day.

Anonymous@2:41 has already been into the Black Bush and it isn't even the cocktail hour. He's got guys who haven't learned how to catch, can't field, can't hit, can't throw a fastball through a wet paper towel and can't shave on the ML roster before June.

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About the Author

Mark Zuckerman has covered the Nationals since the franchise arrived in D.C. He's been a member of the Baseball Writers' Association of America since 2001 and is a Hall of Fame voter. Email mzuckerman@comcastsportsnet.com.